AMKRIC:AN AaRICTJI.TUHIST, 
415 
<h ©Dl'iJMIISo 
WliicU Proiiiiiiiii Will Voii Talio ? 
The wide-awake boyand who road these columns 
have probably looked ovoi the list of valuable ]ircmiums 
In the llrst part of the paper. The most energetic among 
them have alrc'ady commenced taking subscribers, that 
they may secure that music-box, or a watch, a gun, a me- 
lodeon, perhaps some aim as high as one of the pianos. 
Such go-ahead characters need no encouragement from 
us. In a few weeks their lists will be complete, and they 
will have the satisfaction of owning some choice article 
honorably earned by their own ertbrts. which will be fur 
better than to have a-ked father or some other friend for 
the money, .'some, however, are still looking and long¬ 
ing, but have not yet mustered up courage to undertake 
the work. They dislike to ask for subscriptions, they 
say, because it looks like begging. That is a great mis¬ 
take. Wiioever induces another to subscribe for a good 
paper does him a favor. Tlie thousands of good hints 
and suggestions, the beautiful engravings, the interesting 
stories, attd otlier good things which the A'jriciilturM 
lirings to its readers every month, will confer on each 
a Imnellt worth many times the subscription price. 
We ask no one to beg, bttt to ofter tlic motley's worth 
and more. So take heart, young friends. There arc 
many in almost every neighborhootl who will readily 
stiltscribc if you will let them examine a number, and 
l>oint out to them its many attractive features. It always 
gives us great pleasure to send premiums to our young 
friends, attd we have remembered hundreds of them in 
this way. Who will earn a piano within the next three 
months? If you should fail to find enough for that, the 
melodeon or some other valuable premium will Ire reach¬ 
ed—there will surely be gornl ixiy for alt you accomplish. 
A Fuitlii'itl Sontiiiol. 
Xtirly 1700 years ago the city of Ptnnpcii was buried 
by a.shes and lava thrown out from the volcano Vesuvius. 
Since its discovery under the mound where It had lain so 
long nnflistiirbed. an immense number of interesting rel¬ 
ics have been brought to light—household utensils, 
works of art, tools of the trades, and remains of the 
former inhabitants. Among the latter was a skeleton 
that might Im called a monument of fidelity. It was that 
of a Roman sentinel stationed at the gate of the city. 
Military law required him to remain at his post until or¬ 
dered away, no matter what should come. He might 
liave properly said: '* The eruption of a volcano is an 
exception to all common law; I have a right now to run 
for my life.” But no. that, he thought, would bring dis¬ 
honor, and he preferred death. He stood firm, the ashes 
falling thick around him ; deeper and deeper they gather¬ 
ed, slowly burying him, yet he stirred not, and there ho 
found his tomb! After seventeen centuries they found liis 
skeleton standing erect, clad in its nisty armor, the hel¬ 
met on his empty skull, and his bony fingers still grasp¬ 
ing 'uis spear, his own monument to his faithfulness. 
<^iir Olrt Iloysi aii«l i-irl**. 
It is pleasing to notice the great numl)er of men and 
women who, on receiving the Atrviiatn Arpiodlnrist, 
open first to the Boys’ and Girls’ Department. Tlds is 
into of at least five-sixths of those we have noticed who 
call at the oflice for their monthly numbers. Another in¬ 
dication of the same fact is the large number of answers 
to problems that come from adults. We have i)ubllshed 
puzzles made by Presidents of Colleges and Judges of 
Courts, showing that they have not forgotten to be I 
young. It is in everj- way desirable to keep a young heart 
as long as possible. Americans are pmbably the oldest 
of clvilizetl people. The proverb “Care killed a cat” 
(which, you know, is said to have nine lives) is at least 
j)artly realized here. The cares and perplexities of busi¬ 
ness are suft’ered to take too much time and attention, and 
people grow old fast. An hour a day of downright i)lay 
would lengthen the lives of most people and make the 
life itself richer in enjoyment and in power. We invito 
our Mends who are old In years but young in feeling, and 
those who desire to Itocome so, to take a frolic occasion¬ 
ally with the young bdks in these columns. Tell them a 
goo<l story (let it be short), set them to imzzling over 
some ingenious problem, show them how to make a new 
toy—in short amuse them and yourselves at the same 
time, and thus secure a welcome benefit all around. 
A Moy M illi liisi llyosj Open. 
Many years ago, a lad thirteen years old was sent t« 
school in a town on the coast of Ireland. Like other 
boys he often roamed by the seashore, collected shells, 
caught insects, picked up seaweed and gathered flowers, 
but, unlike most, while others forgot or threw them away, 
or only half observed them, he bore them in his thoughts, 
I compared one with another, kejtt and reconsidered 
them, asked questions and looked at books, and so, by 
degrees, acquired information and a hahit qf ob^en'otion 
which inlluenced the course of his whole life. Any boy 
could have done the same, but none of his companions 
did it, and so he only gained the distinction which such 
a course itersevered In Is sure to bring. One day he 
fotind a plant dillering from any he had seen in all his 
careful obsenation of the surrounding country. He 
looked in botanical works, but could find no description of 
it, so at last he sent it to a distinguished botanist to learn 
its name. The gentleman not only cheerfully gave the 
information, but complimented him on his shuri)-sighted- 
ness and close observation, which, of course, inspired 
him to new effort. Although he was soon called to enter 
business life, he continued to study nature with open 
eyes, and was soon rewarded by discovering new species 
of shells and plants. From one step to another he passed 
on, until ho became the distinguisln^d naturalist. Dr. 
W. H. Harley, whose death is recorded in our recent 
foreign exchanges, accompanied by a sketch of his lif>'. 
In the course of his studies he visited many parts of the 
globe, discovered and described a great numb»>r of new 
species, and enjoyed the highest respect of the scientific 
world. Boys, and girls too, Iwp your eyrs oiten. There 
arc thousands of undiscovered facts all over the world 
waiting for some careful sighted observer to note them, 
and by so doing to distinguish himself and benefit the race. 
Aow to bo An»<worotl. 
No. 2S<1. MatTiematkal Pi-ohUm. Contributed to the 
Ametican Agrindturist by A. J. Pierce.—A man has a 
spring at the bottom of an irregular hill. To reach it, he 
first descends by C steps, each 8 inches high and 6 inches 
wide; then walks along a level plane '20 feet, then de¬ 
scends an inclined plane 30 feet, depressing at an angle 
Look carefttlly at the picture, and 
of 10 degrees from the horizontal; then descends another 
inclined plane 12'j feet in \vhich at every 5 feet slope he 
descends 3 feet. Required, 1st, the whole horizontal dis¬ 
tance ; 'id, the porpendicular distance ; 3il, the distance 
in a direct line ; 4th, the angle of depression. 
No. 287. lUuelraUd Hebuft. —Very good advice to all. 
No. 288. Puzzle Picture.— should there be eleven 
animals more of the same kind shown, in this pen * 
AiiHwerH lo l*i*oblom>* uii<l I*uz!«low. 
The following arc answers to the puzzles, etc., in the 
[ictober number, page 373. No. 2.80. llluetriiled Pebut.— 
A man Intent on charity. 
Above base fear or discontent, 
Twixt man and man sees nought amiss, 
Nor secs a Judas in a kiss. 
No. 281. Uluslrided Baronet-No. 2 . 83 . Piddle. 
—A Watch_No. 2,8.'5. Puzzle IHcture.—Oyster stew, 
(Oysters two)....No. 281. Puzzle Picture.—\l is sole, 
(soul.) is bent on it. The following have sent in correct 
answers to puzzles, etc., in October and former numbers. 
Abm. Lutz, Robert J. Philii)s, L. W. Bridget's, S. M. 
Hunter, James Redmond, R. Baird, Wapsier, “ Xubin,^ 
Benjamin Doe, (we don't know the article,) James W. 
Grath, J. A. Dawson, Augustus C. Benzby, "A. B. 
M, H. Kelsey, R. L. Scldcn, John Ober, Ezra Hainbey, 
Adam Snyder,Matthew Simpson, J. U. M'ilkinson, School 
Miss, Wilbur Btizzell, S. M. Hertzler, Frederic E. Willits, 
E. and Ellen L. Rankin, Andrew Jackson, “ E, W.,” 
“ A. M.,” “A.L. W.S..” Ollie M. Suke, Emma Davie, 
" Wide-asleep,'’ W. TL C'orler, I.Jiura Dickson, Hugh U, 
Kay, George, 11. Lawrence, Hamuul Dwi,ght Drury, “Old 
Dominion,” Thomas W. ILaine, “ G. II. C.,” L. M. 
Wright, Mrs. George Bresner, E. T. Bell, J. Milton Sny¬ 
der, Mary Vandegrist, Aaron B. Leach, Frank II. Mars- 
ton. Gyms T, Fox, C, Boice, John Kinsey, D. G. Jones, 
John McNeal, H. J. Meixol, M. G.Mullonoy, E. Lconarrl. 
“Papa,” said a bright-eyed little girl one day, “ I be¬ 
lieve mamma loves yon better n she docs me. Papa 
had his doubts upon the subject, but concluded it was 
not best to deny the charge. She meditated thoughtfully 
about it for some time, evidently construing her father’s 
silence as unfavorable to her side of the question. 
“Well,” said she at last, “I ’spose its all right; you're 
the biggest, and it takes more to lore yen.” 
